Machine for making lightning-rods.



'N0. 630,334. Patented Aug'. 8, I899.

W. 0000. MAGI'IINI'Z FOR MAKING LIGHTNING RODSv (Application filed Sept. 15, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet I.

I0 mu.)

No. 630,334 Patentedjugl 8; I899.

- w. n0ou.

MACHINE FOlj MAKING LIGHTNSNG RODS.

(Apylieation filed Sept. 15, 1898.

Mo Model.)

No. 530,334 Patente t i,Aug. 8, I899. W. 0000 MACHINE FOR MAKING LIGHTNING RODS.

(Application filed Sept. l5, 1898.1

. XWWNMN 'WQ F M 9 2% Patented Aug. 8 i899.

w. oonn. I -MACHINE FDR IAKING LIEH TNIN G RODS;

(Application filed Sept. 15, was.

5 i5heetsSheat 4.

[(11% Model.)

No. 630,334. Patented Aug. 8, 1899.

W. DUDIJ.

MACHINE FUR IAKING LIGHTNING RODS.

(Applicltion mad Sept. 15, 1898.;

(No Iod ol.) 5 Sheets-8heet 5.

" muun UNITED STATES PATENT Onrlcn.

\VEST DODD, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,334., nae-5e August 8, 1899;

Application filed September 15, 1898. Serial No. 691,014. (No model.)

To all whom it may (Jon/corn:

Be it known that I, WEST Donn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Machine for Making Lightning-Rods, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to provide a strong, durable, and efficient machine specially adapted for making a flexible lightning-rd of unique construction in which the maximum surface in a given length will be increased for convey;- ing electric currents and a multiplicity of open spaces produced throughout the entire length to produce an enlarged diameter and increased flexibility to facilitate bending and fitting the rod or conductor to and around irregular surfaces.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements constituting a machine, hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated hy the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the major portion of the machine, and Fig. 2 is a plan of a minor portion of the machine, Figs. 1 and read together fully ill ustrating the machine in plan. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the machine on the indicated line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan, Fig. 5 a side elevation, and Fig. (i an end elevation, of one of the twisting devices employed in the machine. Fig. 7 is a detail plan of a portion of the mechanism for governing the reeling of the product of the machine. Fig. 8 is a vertical section in detail on the indicated line 8 S of Fig 1. Fig. 9 is a detail veriical section on the indicated line .1 i) of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is an illustration of the product of the machine.

In the construction of the machine as shown the numeral 10 designates a supporting-frame provided witheross-bars ll 12, horizontally positioned thereon. Journal-hoarings are mounted rigidly on the central portions of the cross-bars 11 1:3 in alinement with each other, and a tubular shaft 13 is mounted for rotation in said bearings. A. countershaft 1-1 is mounted parallel with the tubular shaft 13 for rotation in hearings iixed to the frame 10, and a drivepulley .15 is mounted rigidly on the central portion of the countershaft and arranged for belting to a prime mover. (Not shown.) A sprocket-wheel 16 is mounted rigidly on the counter-shaft l tand is connected by a sprocket-chain 17 to a sprocket-wheel 1S, rigidly mounted on the initial end of the tubular shaft 13. A frame extension 19 is mounted on and extends out Wardly from the initial end of the frame 10 across an end cross-bar 20 of said frame, and a cross-bar 21 is horizontally positioned in the extremity of said extension. Journalof the crossbars 2O 21 in alinement with the tubular shaft 13, and an auxiliary tubular shaft is mounted for rotation in said hearings. AbeltZ-iconnectsapulleyilononeend of the counter shaft 11- with a smaller pulley 25 on the terminal end of the shaft 22. The auxiliary tubular shaft 22 is provided with a pair of cross-heads 20 27, on the extremities of which are adjustahly mounted journal-bean ings. Spool-yokes 28 29 are mounted for rotation in the hearings on the extremities of the cross-heads 26 27, and the forward end portions of said yokes are tubular. Sprocket wheei's'30 31 are mounted rigidly on the rear ends of the spool-yokes 28 29 and are connected by a sprocket-chain 32, and said chain runs over and under and in engagement with a stationary sprocket 335, fixed to or fo med on the bearing 31, supporting the rear end of the tubular shaft 22. Spools 3:1. 35 36 37 are mounted for revolution on pins 38 35) 40 -11, seated in and transversely of. the spool-yolces 28 29, and wires wound upon said spools are extended through the tubular ends of the yokes and through guiding-sheaves i2 435 on the cross-head 26 and guiding-sheaves ii 4.5 on a cross-head fixed to the terminal end P01 tion of the auxiliary shaft 2; near the pulley The auxiliary shaft 23 is provided with diametrically opposite slots 40 adjacent to the guii'ling-sheaves t1 -15, through which the wires pass from the sheaves into and through the terminal ends of the auxiliary shaft 2;. Spring tension devices are provided for each spool, as designati'zd in the drawings by the numerals l7 181N511. Each of the tension devices is formed of a single length of wire having a straight central portion 1. positioned for engagement with and across the coils of the wire on the spool, the curved side perilous bearings are mounted on the central portions iary shafts El and o, the coils (Z and e, and the stems g and h, the said stems being seated in apertures in the yol-zes and fixed by wrapping the extremities of the piece of wire forming the device around the stems. Spools 51 are mounted for revolution on pins 53 54, seated in vertical positions in the cross-bar on opposite sides of the longitudinal plane of the auxiliar i shaft 22, and Wires wound on said spools extend on opposite sides of and con junctivel y r with the cable or strand formed by the Wires emanating from the spools 3i- 36 37 into and through the tubular shaft 13 and form the core or center of the lightning-rod or product of the machine.

Circular frames 56, comprising hubs and rims connected by spokes, are mounted rigidly and concentrically on the tubular shaft l3,between the cross-bars ll 12,and are spaced apart. J ournal-bearings are mounted on the perimeters of the frames 55 5G, and auxiliary tubular shafts 57 58 59 6O 61 62 are mounted for rotation in said bearings. The auxiliary tubular shafts in the hearings on the frames 55 56 are of the same construction as the auxiliary shaft 29 and carry cross-heads u ith a-d-. justable hearings on their extremities, spoolyokes in said bearings, spools in the yolzes, tension devices on the yokes engaging the coils of wire on the spools, sprocket-chains connecting the spool-yokes in pairs and engaging with stationary sprockets, the guidlug-sheaves, and all other elements identical with the construction hereinbefore described thereon. (See Figs. 4, 5, and 6.) Asprocket- Wheel 63, of larger diameter than the sprockettvhecl 10, is mounted rigidly on the countershaft 1% and is connected by a sprocket-chain (it to a sprocket-wheel (55 of less diameter than the sprocket-wheel 1S, loosely mounted onthetubularshaft-IS. Asprocll'et-wheel60, of greater diameter than the wheel 65, is fixed to said Wheel 65 and arranged to revolve on the tubular shaft 13. A sprocket-chain is mounted on the Wheel 66 and runs in engage ment with and outside of sprocket-Wheels US 09 7O 71' 7; T3, rigidly mounted on the auxiliary shafts 57 58 5D 60 U1 U2.

Guiding-sheaves to the number of six are mounted in brackets 75 fined to and projecting laterally from the rim of the circularframc' 55, adjacent to the terminal ends of the auxil- 57 58 50 60 61 G2 to receive and guide the strands formed by the Wires em a nating from the spools Hi the yohcs carried by said shafts.

A traveling tighlcner-ivhccl 76 is mounted adjustably on and projects radially from the rim of the circular frame 50 to engage and tighten the chain (57.

A collar '77is mounted rigid lyou the tubular shaft 13, near the terminal end of said shaft, and a plurality of guide-sheaves 78, in this instance six in number, are mounted on said collar to receive the strands frur the sheaves Tl. The tubular sha ft 1; is provided the tuhularshaft 1. 3 and is provided with a central aperture 81 to permit the passage of the core or center of the cable product. The plate is provided with six apertures S3 S1- 85 so 87, arranged in a row concentric with the aperture 81 to receive the strands from the slots 79 and lay the same in twists upon the core of the cable product.

A reel 88 is mounted rigidly on a countersha-ft 89, mounted for rotation in bearings fixed to the frame 10, the counter-shaft being parallel With thetuhular shaft 13. -A counter-shaft 90 is mounted for rotation in bearings fixed to the frame 10, parallel with the shaft 13 and on the opposite side of said shaft from the counter-shaft 89. A small sprocketivhecl 91 on the terminal extremity of the tubular shaft 13 is connected by a sprocketchain 92 with a larger sprocket-wheel 93, rigidly mounted on the countcrshaft 00, and a small sprocket-wheel E l on said countershaft is connected by asproeket-chain 05 with a larger sprocket-wheel 00 on the countershaft 59.

A pully 97 is mounted rigidly on thopouuter-shaft S9. Cross-bars 08 09 are horizpntally positioned on the frame 10 and spaced apart, and bearings 100 101 are mounted in alinement with each other on the central portions 1 of said cross-bars and laterally removed from in relation to the shaft 22 and devices mounted the plane of the bore of the shaft 13 opposite to the reel 88. A feeding-shaft 102 is mounted for rotation in the bearings 100 101 and is held against longitudinal movement toward the twisting devices by a collar 103 on the shaft engaging the bearing 100. Pulleys lOl 105 are mounted loosely on the feeding-shaft in opposition to the pulley 07 and are of materiallyless diameter than the said p ully 97. The pulleys 10+. 105 are spaced apart and their adjacent sides are formed as clutches, and a clutch member 100 is keyed on. the shalt between the pulleys and arranged for engage ment with one or another of the clutch-faces thereon. A lever 107 is fulcrumed on a bracket 10S, laterally projecting from and lined to the cross-bar 9S, and one endof said lever is forked and loosely embraces the clutch member 100. The opposite end of the lever 10? is formed as a rincdiaie of the handle and f rum located a pin 100, traversing the lever and seat 3. in one or another of a pair of apertures in a bracket 110, laterally projecting from and fixed to the cross-bar 98, thereby holding the clutch mem ber100 in engagement with one or another of the pulleys. A Winch 111 is mounted on. the feeding-shaft 102, whereby said shaft may be manually operated and adjusted. That portion of the fecdi rig-shaft 10."? between. its iourrial-bearings S01. liter-(30d, and :2. traveling block 112 is in teriorly s -tlircadedand mounted for-travel on said shaft. The travel- ISO anism may be'of any suitable construction and is employed to register and account the revolutions of the reel, and thereby facilitate ascertaining the quantity of cable product made by the machine.

Tighteners may be provided for all the chains,-as is shown in Fig. 1, wherea flanged wheel 117 is mounted on a c0unter-shaft 118 and peripherally engages the chain 17.

The product of the machine consists of the cable built up as follows: The core is formed of four wires A B and O D, twisted in pairs right-handed and twisted together left-handed and then extended, in a straight line, with two wires E F laid parallel with the hawser thus formed and six hawsers G H I J K L laid left-handed upon the core, each of the last mentioned hawsers comprising two strands twisted left-handed and laid together right handed.

The manner of forming the several twists will be readily apparent from an inspection of the drawings, with the arrows thereon, in connection with the foregoing description.

I claim as my invention- 1. A machine of the class described, comprising the core-forming mechanism, mechanism for laying straightstrands upon the core, the hawser-forming mechanism, the orbital mechanism forlayin g the hawsers on the core, and the reeling mechanism.

2. The machine of the class described com prising the pair of strand-forming mechanisms combined with the spools to form a coreproducing mechanism, mechanism for laying straight strands upon the outside surface of the core along its entire length, the hawserforming mechanisms, the orbital mechanism for laying the hawsers upon the core, and the reeling mechanism.

In a machine for making flexible lightning-rods,thc core-forming mechanism,1nechanism for laying a plurality of straight wires on the core and parallel with the axis of the core, haWser-forming mechanism composed of a plurality of strand-forming mechanisms, orbital mechanism for laying the hawsers upon the straight wires and the core, all arranged and combined to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

4. In a machine of-the class described, the tubular shaft mounted for rotation, spools mounted on stationary supports at the outer end of said tube for extending strands therefrom through the tube, the circular frames mounted on said shaft, the auxiliary shafts mounted for rotation on said frames and carried in a common orbit thereby, the spool-carrying yokes mounted for rotation on said aux iliary shafts, means for guiding the wires in strands, hawsers and cables, and the reeling mechanism.

5. In a machine for making flexible lightning-rods, a hawser-forming mechanism comprising the shaft, the cross-heads on the shaft, the strand-formiug'devices on said crossheads, means for carrying said strand-forming devices around the shaft to produce the core, mechanism for extending straight wires on the core and parallel with the axis of the core and means for guiding the strands, all arranged and combined to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

6. In a machine for making lightning-rods from a plurality of strands of wire, meehanism for simultaneously twisting four strands to produce a pair of cables, mechanism to twist the pair of cables together to produce a core, mechanism for laying a plurality of straight strands on the core, mechanism for simultaneously twisting together strands in pairs to produce a plurality of cables, mechanism for simultaneously spirally coiling or twisting the plurality of cables on the core and the -st-raight wires laid on and extended with the core,al1 arranged and combined upon a suitable supporting-frame to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

7. A machine for making lightning-rods from a plurality of strands of wire, comprisingmechanism for simultaneously twisting four strands to producea pair of cables, mechanism to twist the pair of cables together to produce a core, mechanism for laying a plurality of straight strands on the core, mechanism for simultaneously twisting together strands in pairs to produce a plurality of cables, mechanism for simultaneously spirally coiling or twisting the plurality oi cables on the core and the straight wires laid on and extended with the core, spools for all the strands, 'a prime motor for actuating all the operative mechanisms, and a reel for coiling the finished flexible; lightning-rod, all arrangedand combined upon a suitable supporting-frame, to operate in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

WEST DODD. Witnesses:

ALVIN D. S'rRU'rHnns,

THOMAS G. Onwio. 

